The Pay Off

I agree with many of the previous comments about "The Payoff", although I'm just not that enthusiastic about it.

The film is a page straight out of the part-crime-mystery / part-comedy genre of the day. It's true that the dialog is snappy and if you're in the mood it can be quite engaging.

But it's also true that "The Payoff" is really more of a theatrical-style of presentation than film. Lee Tracy immediately goes over the top, and stays there, with a very stage-style performance. Too loud, too gestural, too self-entertaining, just plain "too". The other characters are mostly cliché, too.

I wouldn't avoid The Payoff if you enjoy 40's urban crime features. It's a terrific feature if you're home sick and need to fill an hour. But I wouldn't go to any extraordinary measures to see it, either.

Lee Tracy is no good-looking guy, but he sure can talk. As an ace reporter he needs not trumps to carry the whole game all the way home with a vengeance. There are a lot of casualties on the way of this stormy whirlpool of intrigues, but there is a charming woman also, who actually helps Dick Tracy on the way although she actually also shoots him down when things get too nervy. But this mess too is just an ordinary winding up of general corruption, money being the game and the object of everyone's greed, and everyone dying to get it, some actually shooting their ways out for the mere sport of it. It's a fast and rickety thriller of no mystery but many knots to tie up, one untied knot constantly leading to greater knots higher up. You will enjoy this stormy ride on the ocean of corruption, and you'll never guess who was the top manager of this circus of lies and smokescreens until he is no more but still gets an honorary epitaph, and Lee Tracy ultimately gets what even he wants.

When the film begins, the reporter Brad McKay (Lee Tracy) is doing what most reporters seem to do in films when they're not on assignment-- he's playing poker with the boys. While this is taking place, across town someone is ventilating the District Attorney's head with a .38 slug...so at least we know that the guys playing poker weren't responsible. But who is? And, like most B-crime films, it's inevitably that the fast-talking reporter knows infinitely more than the stupid cops...so it will be up to him to solve the case.

This film is an interesting comedown for Tracy. Back in the 30s, he made films for several big studios, including Columbia and MGM. However, after a series of public embarrassments, Tracy's film work consisted of working for the crappiest studios...and it didn't get any crappier than PRC...who made this film. However, for a PRC film it's much better than usual...thanks mostly to Tracy as well as a halfway decent script...very unusual for PRC! Not a brilliant film but worth seeing and among the best PRC films I've seen. In other words, it surprisingly did not suck!

Lee Tracy made a career out of playing wise-cracking reporters, in fact, the model for such roles. Interestingly, this film was made for him, Tracy personally investing in a series of dramas for PRC (Producers Releasing Corporation). Unfortunately, with WWII just beginning, Tracy could only star in one feature before joining the US Army as a first lieutenant.

Despite a low budget, what PRC was famous for, the script by Edward Dein is excellent, and Tracy putting in a 100 percent. He plays reporter Brad McCay, who with his adult son, Guy (played by Tom Brown), investigates the murder of a district attorney, who yes, was on the payroll. Money, money, money! Character actor John Maxwell plays Moroni, lead suspect, although Brad has a difficult time linking him to the crime, while Moroni claims he knows the true killer.

So WHODUNIT? I agree, the cast of familiar B-film actors make this worth a look. Silent screen star Evelyn Brent plays Alma. Ian Keith portrays a detective, and long time villain Jack LaRue makes an appearance. Why not? Tina Thayer plays Phyllis, who appeared mostly in films in the 40s.

Edward Dein went onto write several cult films, later lead writer for tv's HAWAIIAN EYE, a hero to all us kids.

Thanks much to RETRO TV for bringing back this oldie. The film is on dvd, often in box sets with other B films favorites.

Lee Tracy pretty easily carries the show in this fast-moving drama featuring fast talking and a set of familiar supporting characters ranging from the cub reporter to the police inspector needing help to the shady club owner to the girl whose father is in trouble. Evelyn Brent is the one other somewhat interesting character—as the wise female on the wrong side of the law, she's a challenge for Tracy to try and pull over to his side.

Tom Brown is the publisher's son who doubles as the cub reporter trying to learn the business; he's not particularly exciting but eager and fresh-faced and he does throw one punch. Tina Thayer as the daughter of the missing suspect doesn't have much to do and isn't given much to say, but she wears a worried look the best she can. Many other familiar faces populate the rest of the cast—the usual assortment of cops, crooks and reporters.

Oh, the plot? It's fairly complex, actually, having to do with a murdered special prosecutor investigating corruption and a $100,000 payoff that gets chased around for most of the picture.

The script is full of snappy dialog, some of it having to do with the plot, some just clever filler (Brown asks Tracy what they're going to do now, to which Tracy responds, "Slight pause for station identification."). Tracy also tells Brent in the first moments after their meeting, "After one drink, I propose," which adds a little nicely-calculated tension to their future encounters.

Worth a look for those of us who like rapid-fire dialog and don't mind a few clinkers or clichés.